State & Regional News

Registered voters have until 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, to request a mail-in ballot for the May 20 primary election. In Lehigh and Northampton counties, the primary will be limited exclusively to registered Democrats and Republicans.

The Northampton County Drug Task Force raided four convenience stores Thursday — three in the Slate Belt and one in East Allen Township. Besides the cash seized, authorities said the value of products confiscated surpassed $400,000.

State Sen. Lisa Boscola and and state Sen. Nick Miller, both Democrats, voted in favor of legislation that would prevent transgender athletes from competing in girls' sports. State Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-Lehigh/Bucks, also supported it.

Bishop Alfred A. Schlert of the Diocese of Allentown and Father Jim Greenfield of DeSales University share their thoughts on the selection of new Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from the United States and a 1977 Villanova University graduate.

State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware County, joined a group of legislators and firefighters Thursday to discuss an upcoming act which will ensure access to PTSI care for first responders.

Ro Khanna's town hall is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. May 17 in the Americus Hotel in downtown Allentown.

Even with several days of rain, the Lehigh Valley remains well below average in long term levels of precipitation. Here's how the rest of the month could shape up.

Lehigh Valley Public Media has cancelled a summer enrichment program and library programming after President Donald Trump ordered a federal funding freeze to NPR and PBS last week.

Latino leaders spoke about a proposed budget bill that would cut funding for Medicaid and SNAP programs while urging residents to vote in the upcoming May election. The leaders from UnidosUS and the Lehigh Valley also touched on immigration fears.

Pennsylvania voters must be registered and affiliated with a major party by close-of-business Monday to participate in the May 20 municipal primaries.

State Rep. Ana Tiburcio is seeking a two-year term after winning a special election in February. She's facing Allentown City Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach, who's been a progressive voice in Lehigh Valley politics for 15 years.

Carol Obando-Derstine, Lamont McClure and Ryan Crosswell expressed a desire to reform ICE rather than abolish it during one-on-one interviews in the PA-7 Talks series.

Former residents and several people close to the fire department described years of deteriorating conditions and limited enforcement inside the Hotel Hampton, including blocked or missing exits, rodent infestations, malfunctioning or ignored smoke alarms and more.

Political scientist Chris Borick says endorsements and money have given Bob Brooks a slight advantage in the crowded PA-7 race.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced it's throwing its support to Bob Brooks in the Lehigh Valley's congressional race. The announcement drew rebukes from his Democratic rivals and the chair of the Lehigh County Democratic Committee.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, during an interview repeated his opposition to forever wars, but lauded President Donald Trump for taking out Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei when the opportunity presented itself.

PBS39 from 6-7 p.m. today, April 30, will broadcast a special hourlong community forum, "A Community Conversation: Understanding Childhood Vaccine Changes."

On this week’s episode of Lehigh Valley Political Pulse, host Tom Shortell spoke with political scientist Chris Borick about the economic forces driving the boom of data centers — along with the political friction emerging.

A revised childhood vaccination schedule was put in place this year reducing the number of recommended vaccines from 17 to 11. Some parents around the Lehigh Valley are confused about what schedule they should follow.

Bob Brooks, a Democratic candidate running for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, has asked a judge to throw out a lawsuit filed against him by Carol Wiley, his former mother-in-law. She alleges he owes her more than $162,000 from a lawsuit she filed in 2018.

The Hotel Hampton boarding house had not undergone fire inspections since at least 2017, despite a history of code violations, fire alarm problems and prior safety concerns, according to a newly completed federal investigation.

Three of the Democrats running in this May's primary for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District criticized President Donald Trump's war with Iran and worsening relations with traditional allies.